A Little Convention History

The Republican Convention ended Thursday.  The Democratic one begins Monday.  The traditional criticisms have commenced.  For example, they say Donald Trump was not explicit enough in explaining his programs.  The nominees rarely do.  For example, Franklin Roosevelt campaigned in 1932 on a New Deal.  Even after the election, not even he knew what that was.

Detailed policy proposals do not have a history of faring well.  Bill Clinton campaigned for office in 1992 on detailed economic plans and promptly ditched them after the election.

The present election should be considered in historical perspective.

Addendum:  Charles Krauthammer called Ted Cruz’s speech “the longest suicide note in American political history.”  It was not.  That was how Bill Clinton’s 1988 speech to the Democratic Convention was described.